tea-chests

“You may form a good idea of the manner in which the Chinese dress upon ordinary occasions,” the author advised, “by noticing the figures which they delineate upon their ... tea-chests.”

The Romance of China: Excursions to China in U.S. Culture: 1776-1876 2005

“We entered into this country,” one observer wrote, “through a tall noble gateway of carved wood painted in dark colors, with the roof turned up, and trimmed off with dragons like tea-chests and pagodas.”

The Romance of China: Excursions to China in U.S. Culture: 1776-1876 2005

I think you can unpack suitcases or tea-chests, _but_ that runs the risk of sounding funny, because there's a possible vision of unpacking a suitcase being taking it out of something else.

languagehat.com: STILL UNPACKED. 2005

In this house there are twenty-four lacquered urns, or tea-chests, or seats, each standing two feet high on four small legs, shod with engraved or filigree brass.

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan Isabella Lucy 2004

At the door of the house were two or three tumbrils, in the act of being loaded with chests, very much resembling tea-chests; one of the chests falling down, burst, and out flew, not tea, but various books, in a neat, small size, and in neat leather covers;

Lavengro 2004

Between the two tea-chests with their coloured pearl-shell figures, he would look his best.

The White Monkey 2004

It always made Jay think of his childhood, when the barrels and tea-chests had seemed so much bigger.

A Place Called Freedom Follett, Ken 1995

In overwhelming force these boarded the ships, split open the tea-chests, and having emptied their contents into the sea, returned, without being discovered, to their homes.

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. From George III. to Victoria Edward Farr

One walked down streets of bully-beef, as it were; loitered in squares bounded by biscuit-tins; dodged up alleys flanked by tea-chests and cases of "Ideal" milk.

With Our Army in Palestine Antony Bluett

There were tea-chests wrapped in matting, there were Eastern-looking frails,

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, August 4th, 1920 Various